The sky was gloomy, and the rain clouds brought by the flood changed shapes in the strong wind.

The sound of water roared, and the receding floodwaters still surged across the land.

This place was still within the territory of Liangzhou Province, where continuous mountains undulated across the landscape. Ahead, two peaks stood side by side, towering into the clouds with a gap between them through which vehicles and horses could pass. However, compared to the two mountains, this gap seemed like a sharp blade, exuding a killing aura.

The Qi Arrow that had just been fired had passed through this blade-like gap, utilizing the advantages of wind and the strategic positions of the mountains—it was a clever use of the natural forces.

Unfortunately, it was not enough against Jiang Li.

"Xiang Shushi, won't you come out and meet an old friend?" said Jiang Li.

Standing in the air, his indifferent voice spread with the wind, "Even the matter of my return to the Sect is known to others, and although the Exchange Skill makes it difficult to calculate and find me in such a short time, it's not impossible. Besides Divination and Exchange Skill, there are still other methods in the world to lock onto my whereabouts. Like..."

Jiang Li flicked his sleeve, his gaze sharp as a sword, sweeping towards the mountain peaks in front, "Sharp-Hearing Ear."

From the moment Ji Jiji was trapped in Wushan to Jiang Li's return to the Sect, it had been less than an hour. In such a short time, even if the enemy received the news in time, and possessed strong manpower and resources, it would still be extremely difficult to track Jiang Li.

But Sharp-Hearing Ear could.

As long as he waited on the necessary path to the Dinghu Sect, as long as Jiang Li didn't give up the advantage of time by choosing a longer route, his whereabouts would inevitably be locked by Sharp-Hearing Ear.

At the spot where his gaze fell, upon the mountain peak, a middle-aged man in a tight outfit stepped out and looked at Jiang Li from a distance.

This man was Xiang Huaiyi, the former Director of the Southern Heavenly Department.

Due to acting on behalf of the Emperor with Wan Dingtian, the Deputy of Nantian, and after the Emperor's confinement, both Xiang Huaiyi and Wan Dingtian became wanted criminals of the Southern Heavenly Department. They should have been captured and killed, yet they had remained elusive and at large—only to appear here now.

The Fifth Grade Dao Fruit that Xiang Huaiyi harbored was very suitable for the Heavenly General—Sharp-Hearing Ear.

'Is it someone from the Ji Family?' Jiang Li guessed.

Hiding two wanted criminals without being detected by Ji Lingguang was actually not difficult since Divine Capital was the Ji Family's stronghold.

This also meant that the mastermind behind the Taiping Sect was starting to make their move.

Once holding a high position and carrying an air of unspoken authority, Xiang Huaiyi now seemed considerably desolate. Although well-dressed, the prolonged hiding had worn away much of his spirit, yet it was only upon seeing Jiang Li that he revealed a fierce determination and a murderous intent.

Jiang Li played some role in Xiang Huaiyi's fall to this state. After all, it was Jiang Li's master who had led the rebellion that had utterly humiliated the Emperor, eventually resulting in his capture by the Great Venerable.

Aside from Xiang Huaiyi, another familiar figure appeared on the opposite mountain peak. The blue-clad man with fine eyebrows, a square face, and scholarly appearance also stepped out from behind the concealed rocks, his energy firmly locked onto Jiang Li.

The former Deputy of Nantian—Wan Dingtian.

Looking afar through the gap between the two peaks, one could see a lower green mountain where a man in scholar's robes, holding a great bow, was poised in their direction, his fierce energy re-emerging.

Judging by his garments, he might have once been an Imperial College Scholar, though his current allegiance was unknown.

Although the Imperial College was a significant force, it couldn't control the allegiance of all scholars. Whether born to noble families or from humble beginnings, these scholars might return to their clans or seek benefactors after graduating from the Imperial College. Even the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer, Mo Yiling, couldn't possibly command all scholars.

Wan Dingtian, Xiang Huaiyi, and the unknown archer intercepted from the front, while in the back, or rather below, Jiang Li sensed a subtle yet fierce murderous intent lurking.

Just like the shadow under the sunlight, hiding the killing intent in the light.

This feeling was quite familiar to Jiang Li, for he had once crossed hands with this person—an assassin who participated in ambushing him through the West Beauty Mirror.

"Is that all? Four fifth-rank…" Jiang Li showed a hint of regret, "No fourth-rank, huh."

Four fifth-rank, compared to the last ambush on him, this lineup was still missing one person, and at that time, Jiang Li was only sixth-rank, much weaker than now.

"Of course not just this,"

Wan Dingtian stood upright, facing a formidable enemy like Jiang Li, he had raised his highest alert level, but he showed no panic, "We are here only because we were originally in Liangzhou, and managed to arrive in time. Young Master Jiang, why not guess which fourth-rank expert will come later?"

At the same time, Xiang Huaiyi, possessing Sharp-Hearing Ear, spoke loudly, "This man is full of tricks, best at deceiving the enemy. Everyone, please be careful in responding. As long as we can block him temporarily, someone will take care of him."

The meaning was clear—they aimed to block, not to kill.

Once colleagues, now accomplices, the two coordinated tacitly, setting their policy while trying to disturb Jiang Li's mental state. The arrival of a fourth-rank was, to Jiang Li, no pleasant matter.

At least, in their view, it was no pleasant matter.

To this, Jiang Li simply smiled lightly.

"Full of tricks? Privy Council Chief Xiang, do you perhaps have a misunderstanding about tricks, or about me?"

Jiang Li smiled and said, "So-called tricks, sneak attacks, tactics are all methods of the weak overcoming the strong, meant to help the weak defeat the strong, but now—"

He raised his hand, and the wind howled while Calamity Cloud tumbled, "I am the strong one."

The wind pressure crashed down, a mass of storm surged across the sky, forming a dense wall of wind, as if the heavens themselves were collapsing, pressing down towards the two mountain peaks.

All that could be heard were the sounds of the wind, the raging storm forming a tangible current of force, extraordinarily terrifying.

Wan Dingtian and Xiang Huaiyi had long known that Jiang Li was not as he used to be, but even then, witnessing such a scene still shocked their spirits, and an indescribable tremor surfaced in their hearts.

"Purple Qi Avoiding Calamity."

Wan Dingtian let out a long cry, purple Qi billowing, transforming into a Star Map, contending with the wind pressure.

Xiang Huaiyi, being weaker and his Dao Fruit not skilled in combat, also forcefully spurred his True Qi, striking with both palms to aid Wan Dingtian.

"Boom!"

The collision exploded with Qi force flowing wildly, chunks of mountain rock shattered and fell from the peaks. The wind brought ghostly and godly howls, forcing both men to plow two long furrows into the stony ground, with Xiang Huaiyi unable to stop blood from oozing out of the corners of his mouth.

With a raise of his hand, it was a tremendous force, using the laws of nature, turning the vast heavenly wind into his own power, its might and capability simply unbelievable.

Both men retreated hastily, all the while staring ahead fixedly, because within that chaotic storm, Jiang Li's figure had already approached unknowingly.

Tricks?

No need for any excess calculations—in face of fifth-rank, Jiang Li's strength was an absolute crushing!

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